CAELLUM’S POV
“How do we know this is not another silly ploy to get us cornered?” Marcus said, fighting really hard to contain himself. “The lady already betrayed us once, we can’t possibly take her word for it.”
I stood by the window while my beta aired his dissatisfaction with my decision to recover the said goods. “You forget that we have an ally over there. Korah.”
He shook his head. “I saw Naledi try to kill Korah! She was torturing her. I felt when she almost gave up the ghost at the hands of that woman! You can’t believe her, not if you saw what I did.”
“She is still alive,” I muttered in a cold tone, making him understand that I hated the tone he spoke to me with.
“That’s because Ezra said so. That man is as unstable as anything. He freaking worked for Nicolai. Getting him to be on our side is not a guarantee that he will not betray us. We need to protect the Cosa Nostra interest. This might be Don Yakuza’s way of luring us into a trap.”
“Don Yakuza is dead.” A foreign voice caught my attention. Ezra was in the room. Darn that fucking traveller. “Do you believe me now?”
Marcus looked like he had been doused with cold water.
“What do you mean Don Yakuza is dead?” My attention was fully invested.
He walked over to us and sat on a couch in the office, one of Naledi’s favourite couches. “You sure need to keep yourself updated.” He snickered, and I growled, unable to stomach the disrespect.
He wasn’t phased though. Ezra was one of the powerful nature’s servants I was privileged to meet after Korah and Marcus. He was a man who wouldn’t be controlled no matter the situation.
“Don Yakuza has long been expedited from this earth, and that by your mate.”
I snarled at his words. “She is not my mate.”
“Whatever floats your boat, Alpha.” He crossed his legs, “You do know that you are only entitled to one fated, right?”
“Get to the point, Ezra!” That was Marcus.
“How rude.” His nose flared, “Seven years ago, young Naledi, or should I say, Attai, ran out of the Yakuza after striking Don Yakuza who tried to rape her.” A brief pause, “What was intended to knock the old geezer out turned out to be a fatal blow that welcomed him to the depths of hell.”
“Ever since, his son, Draken Yakuza took over the place. He hid his father’s death for a long time until he couldn’t. For the past three years, he has been working as the head of the pack.”
My lips pursed as I assimilated the information. All these while I had been going after the wrong man. A dead man. Apparently, I was dealing with his unknown son I hadn’t cared to meet nor was I aware of his existence.
“And you are just saying this now?!” Marcus looked bewildered.
“It’s not my fault that you are so incompetent with your jobs. I’m not quite in the habit of spoon-feeding people with information they should already know.” A wave of hand, “Nevertheless, I am here to inform you of the latest turn of things.”
We all paid attention as he shocked us with new information.
“Draken has decided to bring in some shipment for his business,”
A scoff, “You mean the human trade he runs in his estate?” Marcus interjected, sounding sore.
“If you will let me finish.” I gave him a look that sealed his mouth from murmuring. “The Yakuza has been expecting the shipment and suddenly, they moved the drop date closer.”
A sick plan formed in my head. “When is it?”
“Today.”
Confusion clad my face, “Are you lying to me?” My tone was grave and reflected my Alpha status. “I have my hands and eyes looking out for any development on the Japanese water. Nothing gets through the fucking place without my knowledge.”
“If you think you are the only one who knows that Tokyo is crawling with Cosa Nostra men, then think again.” His words blew me out of the water. “The entire Yakuza, including Draken knows that you have been deploying and recruiting more people from the Yakuza.”
“Hence the reason for his refusal to welcome the goods in Tokyo.”
“Where will the goods be arriving?” Marcus took words straight out of my mouth.
“Good question.” Ezra’s eyes met mine. “According to my findings, the shipment would be arriving here in Sicily.”
I felt like I’d been dished a backhand.
“Like I said to Naledi, this was either the stupidest thing for Draken to do or the smartest.” A crooked smile, “From the look on your face, I figured it was the former.”
I met eyes with Marcus, “Gather the men.”
One nod and he left the room, knowing I was in no good mood.
Ezra passed a little paper on the table, I could see the faint markings on it. “You have about five hours before the shipment arrives.” He pulls out another paper. “And here is the address for your actual shipment.”
With swift steps, I walked towards the table and picked them up, studying each of the addressees. “Russia?” My blood froze. “Are you trying to tell me that Alek stole what’s mine?”
My voice was a bark and my veins bulged in my forehead.
“No.” A chuckle. “That bastard. I wondered why he chose Russia of all places to carry out his devices. He wants to start a war. Think about it, the two rival packs break out in war for some alleged goods. They mark themselves and leave the game with one person at the top.”
“The Yakuza pack.” I finished for him, seething at the fact he was saying the truth.
We were getting our heads jammed together. That was the only explanation for his acts. He wanted us to neutralize each other while he took the spot as the number one.
When Ezra remained seated, giving me a look I couldn’t understand, I asked, “Let me guess, you gave me this information because you wanted something?”
I was getting tired of users, betrayers, and all the likes. Why did I always seem to attract such kinds of people?
Ezra must have read the look on my face, the next minute, he said, “It was never my idea to give you this information, Alpha.”
“On the contrary, Naledi gave the idea and I just followed up because I thought it was a good one.” A brief pause, “So you must understand that whatever request I am making now is a personal one.”
“I know that you have some men loitering about in the Yakuza territory. Some of them have been killed while others are in the city. I want you to deploy them to the Yakuza estate tonight.”
A confused look marred my face, “And why would I do that?”
“Because I’d hate to miss an opportunity.” A cruel smile. “What better time to organise a coup on the Yakuza mafia pack? It’s about time we end that tyranny, don’t you think?”